The closing ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games was held at the National Stadium on the evening of February 20, 2022. It marked the official conclusion of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. In this grand event, athletes had fought hard and presented the audience with a feast of sports. Meanwhile, the volunteers had made behind-the-scene contributions to the Games. They had gained respect through their hard work, formed close ties through their smiles, and warmed the stadium with their passion. At the closing ceremony, Zhang Hongbo, a YSU student, was one of the six volunteers representing more than 18,000 volunteers of the Beijing Winter Olympics. She and the other five volunteer representatives received thanks from the newly elected members of the IOC Athletes' Commission at the closing ceremony.
Zhang Hongbo at the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games
Zhang Hongbo is a Class 2022 undergraduate of the School of Physical Education of YSU. She received the title of "Advanced Individual in Youth Volunteer Service Against COVID-19" by the Chinese Communist Youth League. Zhang Hongbo was a sports volunteer at the National Biathlon Centre of the Zhangjiakou competition area. She was responsible for traffic control in the athletes' complex. As the only female in and the leader of her team, she was responsible for checking the credentials of athletes, referees, coaches, and press who came to the venue. Regardless of the weather, she would remain at her post as long as there was training or competition underway in the venue. She worked five to ten hours every day outdoors, even when there was a snowstorm or a gale. With temperatures as low as 20 degrees below zero, she often couldn't feel her hands or feet. Zhang Hongbo is also a careful "sports person." As a PE major, she envies the athletes in the field and hopes that she can provide professional and thoughtful services for them. She found that some athletes were used to tucking their masks into their pockets during training and before games. After intensive exercise, the masks were often crumpled up or soaked with sweat, resulting in uncomfortableness and poor protection. Since then, she had carried several spare masks with her whenever she was on duty, and she was always there when the athletes needed help. When the biathlon events were about to close, heavy snowfalls hit Zhangjiakou and the temperature dropped. There was one time when Zhang Hongbo saw a foreign audience who was not wearing enough clothes, she offered her own warm stickers that she kept for the night shift. Small gestures of kindness like this have gained her many "thank yous" from people from different countries.
Zhang Hongbo at her post
Zhang Hongbo at her post
（Photo provided by the Communist Youth League Committee of YSU）
Zhang Hongbo is just an epitome of the volunteers of YSU. YSU sent 322 volunteers to serve in the Zhangjiakou competition area of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Fearless of the cold, they worked hard and devoted themselves to the Games without complaint. With their smiles and sweat, they showed the dedication and responsibility of YSU students and the Chinese youth. The YSU volunteers receiving thanks on the stage of the closing ceremony is of great significance. It's a recognition of YSU's Winter Olympics volunteer team by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The teachers and students of YSU are greatly encouraged and proud. We will continue to strive and contribute our vigorous strength to the realization of the "YSU Dream" and the Chinese Dream.
